SWA Putshbacks in PHL

[RUhiring?]

Just a quick question to the SWA guys who fly out of PHL. When your a/c are parked on the end of the E concourse, why do your pushback crews push the a/c all the way back onto taxiway J and block all traffic? There is plenty of room to push away from the gate and not block anyone's movement.

 

[miles otoole]

Just a quick question to the SWA guys who fly out of PHL. When your a/c are parked on the end of the E concourse, why do your pushback crews push the a/c all the way back onto taxiway J and block all traffic? There is plenty of room to push away from the gate and not block anyone's movement.

Because we now run the show there.

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

Because we now run the show there.

That's just LUVely

 

[Mach 80]

Sometimes to let other inbound SWA airplanes access to the get into the gates.

 

[kelbill]

Trust me, we aren't pushing back and blocking a taxiway unless we've been told to push back that far by ramp control OR there just isn't any room to do it a better way. Our Jepps tell us to make sure we don't block a particular service road near the gates, so maybe that has something to do with it. I'll check it out next time I'm in there.

 

[SWA/FO]

I think "Ramp control" would bring it to our attention if we were messing it up that bad? I'm sure we get in peoples way from time to time, it makes you wonder what would happen if they didn't have a ramp control? Thankfully, we have to talk on 3 freqs before we can go to ground just to keep things efficient

 

[RUhiring?]

I kind of thought maybe it had to do with the service road. However, I guess this is an occasion when the ground traffic has priority over taxiing aircraft.
Heaven forbid we should keep that (U Express) baggage guy from getting to the breakroom to take a nap.

 

[LearLove]

"Heaven forbid we should keep that (U Express) baggage guy from getting to the breakroom to take a nap"

Man I know you didn't go there. Look out, your gonna get "cap" in your a$$ now.

 

[RUhiring?]

Maybe not a cap in my a$$, but I'd better keep an eye on my crew bag from now on.

 

[Mugs]

Because we now run the show there.

Pluck Yew.

 

[Juniority]

I've done Philly about five times now. When I call for push Ramp is very specific as to where and when we should push the airplane. I suggest you find the web-forum where the Philly ramp controllers hang out and ask your question there.

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

Pluck Yew.

Pluck yew too douche bag.

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

Anybody get the idea that this is a bit of flame bait?

Mike

 

[RUhiring?]

No, it was not flaim bait. It was an honest question that I thought might have an honest answer.

 

[T-Gates]

Because we now run the show there.

Ahhh....you're wicked funny.....

 

[ivauir]

No, it was not flaim bait. It was an honest question that I thought might have an honest answer.

I think you got it: we are following ramp's instructions. It doesn't make sense to me either. BTW I think I speak for just about everybody here when I say that I really watch my Ps and Qs is Philly. I am very aware that not everybody wants us there and the last thing I want to do is provoke someone. We do not need to add fuel to the fire. I'd be very disappointed to see one of our crews intentionally block a taxiway, make a wisecrack over the radio etc.
I have seen some unprofessional USAir behavior, but it has been minimal.Overall a professional group who just had the misfortune of working in a company run by crooks.

 

[Mugs]

So there we were in PHL about 3 days ago at spot 11 inbound, forced to come to a full stop shortly after shutting one down for a single engine taxi in. We stop because SWA is sitting right on top of spot 11 having a debate with the ramp controller. Aparrently, the issue boiled down to winglets. The captain took over from the F/O on the radio to enforce the point that she was not comfortable taxing into the congested area without a wing walker since they had a winglet airplane. I thought it looked like the winglets went pretty much straight up and down anyway, so I really didn't understand what the issue was. Did she mean that it was because it was a -700 series which I suppose has a slightly longer wingspan than a -300? We sat quietily burning our unhedged fuel while the ramp controller struggled to understand their point. I swear, we didn't say a word and quietly burned gas. Afterall, according to board member Miles O'Toole, SWA owns the place.

 

[canyonblue]

This place needs help, and it will be fixed.

 

[RVR300]

>The captain took over from the F/O on the radio to enforce the point that she was not comfortable<


I think you have your answer.

 

[Mugs]

Ahhhhhhhhh, you need sensitivity training. That is a rare problem in LUVland, is it not?

 

[miles otoole]

Cripes, I thought pilots had thick skin. I was joking. I guess I wasn't being sensitive enough.

 

[RVR300]

Sorry Mugs, couldn't pass that one up. I don't know what got her panties in a bunch, but sometimes things just don't look right, and when that happens you gotta do what you gotta do. If you bend the airplane you can bet they're going to ask why you taxiied in when you thought it looked bad. It's not the ramp controller's ticket on the line after all.

 

[flint4xx]

Did she mean that it was because it was a -700 series which I suppose has a slightly longer wingspan than a -300?

-700 118' with winglets
-300 94'